<p>Rank is important because it allows the admissions council to compare your achievement to others in your school most directly. I’d imagine it to play a larger role than GPA, but being valedictorian is probably negligible over being in the top few percent. You definitely want to be in the top 10%, preferably top 5%.</p>
<p>I’ve never heard of them not using freshman year grades, and I seriously doubt this is true; however, all colleges enjoy seeing improvement, so if you’ve improved since your freshman year (assuming you weren’t a C and D student) and have other reasons for them to be interested in you it’s probably okay.</p>